Do you have what it takes to be a great business leader?

By Forward Thinking UK | Coaching For Business

31 Mar 2023

1679433727783.jpeg.jpg

Introduction

Everyone has heard of the great business leaders of our time. People like Tim Cook, Elon Musk, Sheryl Sandberg, and Jeff Bezos are renowned for their successes in managing and leading the biggest organisations in history. 

It’s often tempting to imagine they are a different breed of person entirely. Superhuman figures who plan and execute on a scale far beyond the rest of us mere mortals. But it turns out that the most successful individuals all share certain core characteristics. Namely, goal-setting, an ability to structure and delegate tasks, and an acute awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses. 

Great leaders can plan effectively while remaining flexible enough to succeed in the face of adversity or changes in the market. They have the drive to continue growing, learning and making improvements, separating them from those who cannot realise their business visions. In other words, great business leaders aren’t so much different as they are relentlessly ambitious.

But what does it take to be a great business leader? What qualities make someone stand out from the rest? Let’s explore the essential attributes that make up a great business leader.

Goal Setting

Not daily or monthly targets (although they are important). No, when these business titans set a goal, it’s a massive, audacious, ambitious goal that nobody would believe possible.

Why? Because why the hell not? They aren’t here to play around in the lower leagues. They know that success comes from bold ideas.

Having an overarching goal, or North Star, is one of the most significant aspects of being an effective business leader. It serves as a beacon for focus and direction that can guide teams through potentially turbulent waters. 

Research suggests that having a North Star helps unify a team behind a single mission and provides comfort and reassurance while making decisions along the way. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that having such a goal helps foster resilience when unforeseen change occurs and provides clarity even in times of great uncertainty.

Ultimately, an overarching goal is the foundation on which successful leaders can take their teams further toward unbelievable results.

Structure and Delegation

So, how do you get there once the North Star is set? This is where structure and delegation come into play. 

Effectively breaking down big goals into smaller, more manageable steps is essential for any leader. Setting clear expectations and timelines helps keep everyone on track while allowing you to see what needs improvement or additional resources along the way. Plus, having a long-term goal is fine, but it can be hard to stay focused and motivated if it’s too far in the future. So, implementing smaller, achievable goals leads to a sense of accomplishment that keeps teams energised and hungry for more success.

In addition to creating the journey, the best leaders know how to use their available resources for maximum benefit. Therefore, learning how to delegate tasks is an essential skill. Not only will it help you manage your workload more effectively, but it is also vital for helping you focus on the big picture. 

When done right, delegation ensures all your team members utilise their strengths and skillsets in the best way possible. This leads to them achieving better results and increasing productivity overall. Delegation encourages collaboration as tasks are dispersed among a team or department, which builds relationships and allows everyone to contribute their unique perspectives to completing larger goals. The result? A successful company built on effective leader delegation.

Self-Awareness

The third quality of a successful business leader is self-awareness. It’s easy to get caught up in the details of a project or strategy and forget about your unique skills (or knowledge gaps). There’s nothing more embarrassing than starting a task you thought you could do but then finding out you can’t. It destroys your credibility with your team and damages your ability to lead.

But the top leaders know their own strengths and weaknesses intimately. This means they can delegate tasks to the right people while allowing them to take ownership of those roles. 

Understanding their own weaknesses allows them to bring in a business coach or mentor to help them overcome their shortcomings. A business coach is an invaluable asset for any leader, providing experience and insight to help them succeed. Having someone with you on your journey who can act as a sounding board and mentor is a guaranteed way to reach your goals. Just ask any professional athlete.

Summary

Being a great business leader means more than having impressive credentials or a degree from a prestigious school. It requires hard work, dedication, communication skills, an open mindset, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. 

In many ways, true business leaders can see the big picture while still attending to the small details that make a difference in the long run. By being aware of their abilities and having an ambitious goal, they can structure and delegate effectively, leading to remarkable results.

Want to learn how to become one of the great leaders? Contact us to learn more about our business coaching and company transformation services.

Latest news

1

Pure Leisure Group Expands Portfolio with Acquisition of Twin Lakes Country Club John Morphet at Twin Lakes

Pure Leisure Group Expands Portfolio with Acquisition of Twin Lakes Country Club

29 Apr 2025

2

County’s universities join forces to help business community University of Central Lancashire

County’s universities join forces to help business community

29 Apr 2025

3

Financial Affairs support the Red Rose Award winners' reception Networking photograph

Financial Affairs support the Red Rose Award winners' reception

24 Apr 2025

4

Lancaster University unveils cutting-edge computing and cyber security facilities Head of Lancaster University's School of Computing and Communications Professor Nigel Davies, Chris Ensor, Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Schofield and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) Professor Sarah Kemp

Lancaster University unveils cutting-edge computing and cyber security facilities

24 Apr 2025

5

Northcote announces new owners Alf and Clare Ellis as Lisa Goodwin-Allen returns as chef patron-director Craig Bancroft and Lisa Goodwin-Allen

Northcote announces new owners Alf and Clare Ellis as Lisa Goodwin-Allen returns as chef patron-director

24 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV122 May/June Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
21 May 2025

LBV122 May/June Launch Event

Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 2TY

08:30 - 10:30

Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

People Power: Exclusive Event Series
Stay ahead in 2025.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
29 Apr 2025 - 29 Apr 2025

People Power: Exclusive Event Series

People's History Museum, Manchester, M3 3ER

17:00 - 21:00

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2
EV-land-2025-05B.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships
30478 Skills Bootcamp open day setting.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships

University of Central Lancashire, Preston , PR1 2HE

14:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin